DSEAR and Hazardous Areas

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) and Explosive Atmospheres Directives 99/92/EC (ATEX 137) and 94/9/EC (ATEX 100) are enforced by the HSE and Local Authorities, Fire Brigades and Petroleum Licensing Authorities. The regulations came into force in December 2002 and a transitional period commenced on 1st July 2003 and should legally have been completed by 30th June 2006 as the target date for full compliance.

The regulations were introduced to protect people from explosions, fires and similar events arising from potentially explosive atmospheres in the workplace. A legal responsibility has been placed upon employers to provide their workers with protection in line with the details described by DSEAR / ATEX.

Instrument Response Limited has particular expertise in the selection, installation and maintenance of electrical equipment within hazardous areas. Our specialist personnel are COMPEX trained and have assisted and worked with organisations who have conducted initial DSEAR/ATEX Risk Assessments & Reviews.

• Instrument Response offer:

• Hazardous area assessment

  Provide an independent audit of all aspects of your DSEAR compliance. The audit will identify any shortfalls and provide a pragmatic strategy for ensuring full compliance is attained in a cost effective manner.

• Hazardous area classification documents

  In conjunction with process specialists, assess the risks and develop hazardous area drawings and documentation necessary to attain compliance.

• Hazardous area equipment surveys and inventory

  Undertake hazardous area equipment surveys, inventory all equipment and produce hazardous area equipment location drawings.

• Hazardous area equipment database

  A dedicated database to manage information associated with all equipment in the hazardous area; this can be linked to a manufacturers certification database.

• Management of Inspections

  Scheduling, managing and conducting inspections (using CompEx trained personnel). Record the inspection results using BS EN 60079-17 compliant sheets and update the database. Identify repairs and manage remedial work.

• Gap analysis

  Identifying short falls in equipment that may compromise compliance.

• Engineering Support

  An engineering design and project management capability with continued experience of working in potentially explosive atmospheres. We can help clients implement improvement /compliance projects.

• Ongoing support

  Once compliance is achieved we provide ongoing support to ensure that it is maintained.